Survey Will Count Dilapidated Homes

KISSIMMEE — How many deteriorated and dilapidated houses are there in Kissimmee?

A survey to count them is planned for later this year to give commissioners an overall picture of the quality of housing in the area.

No survey of housing has been taken since 1977, said Joe Rotloff, city planner.

The 1977 survey helped draw attention to the fact that many Kissimmee residents did not have indoor plumbing, said Montrose McClain, a long-time member of the Housing Advisory Board, which is overseeing the project.

''They still had a lot of places that had outdoor privies'' in 1977, McClain said. ''We had our target zone in west Kissimmee. We put sewage in.'' Rotloff said most commissioners probably are aware of dilapidated houses along the main roads, but they may not be aware of what exists in sections of town that are less well-traveled

When the data is compiled, it may reveal some surprises to commissioners, Rotloff said. ''This will give us the big picture.''

The survey will be done by Rotloff and some members of the Housing Advisory Board. They will drive through sections of town in what's termed a ''windshield survey,'' looking at houses from their cars and rating them according to what they see.

Rotloff emphasized that no houses will be condemned as a result of the survey. He said the only purpose is to form a data base.

He said the survey is ordered by the state, the result of laws passed in the past legislative session to force governments to tighten their control on Florida's break-neck development.

McClain said the surveyors ''will be looking at the outside appearance of the home, the number that need paint, those with porches torn down, whether the roof looks dirty. There's still lots of trash in the yards, broken windows.''

McClain and board member Gail Smith said they were concerned with the number of unpaved streets in town. McClain said he also wants to see more housing near shopping centers, which would be convenient for older people.

The board is working on establishing criteria for the survey and expects to begin the actual survey work in the next three to four months, Rotloff said.